Gig Review: Coridian @ Tuning Fork, Auckland – 30/08/2025

The name Coridian is arguably one of the most well-known in the rock scenes of Aotearoa, certainly of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Over the years they’ve been known to pull off highly energetic live shows, have released greatly acclaimed singles and records, and have opened for international acts P.O.D, Fuel, Northlane, Banks Arcade, as well as fellow Kiwi heroes Devilskin, Written by Wolves, Dead Favors, I Am Giant, Ekko Park, and heaps more.

Personally, I have worked with Kris Raven on a covers project, and got to know a few of the other band members. Needless to say, when the announcement came that Coridian were disbanding and taking an indefinite break, the Muzic.NZ camp here, as well as in my little household, were stunned.

In the week leading up to the show celebrating Coridian’s ten-year tenure as well as their final farewell gig at Auckland CBD’s Tuning Fork felt somewhat heavy. And there was one single song lyric from the late 90’s that kept popping into my head.

Don’t do it. Whatever it is, it’ll be cheesy as hell.

Something about endings and beginnings.

Please. Spare us readers of this triteness.

If nothing else, this was to be a night of celebration of achievements, of worshipping kiwi music, and sharing stories and memories. Selected for the bill were post-metal giants Pull Down the Sun, prog-rock extraordinaries Outside In, and in an unveiling of a brand new act, alt-rockers CRY WOLF were to play their debut show.

Pulsing subs and bright synths welcomed the band to the stage, as the four-piece kicked things off. Consisting of James Porteous on drums, Josh Dillner on backing vocals and guitar, Kev Ashby (formerly of Swerve City) as frontman and rhythm guitarist, and Coridian’s own Nick Raven on bass guitar, on double duty this evening. What a stellar lineup!

There were loads of harmonised vocals as well as occasional screams from Kev, and high-voltage punches from the rhythm section. The grunge-informed track Ocean carried vibes of early-era Staind, particularly in lead vocalist Kev’s vocals. Then to kick up the energy a few notches, CRY WOLF paid tribute to Linkin Park by pulling out stops for a howling and ripping cover of One Step Closer, with Kev giving his guitar a rest and focusing on his mic.

Their final song Rainfall showcased the band’s ability to dispatch blood-pumping anthemic choruses as well as hearty, chunky breakdowns for those who came to headbang and thrash around.

For a debut set, CRY WOLF were terrific. Their energy and passion was on full display, and the desire to pump out music that moves people is clear. Despite having a member of Coridian in the lineup, it was evident they are here to stand on their own.

It made perfect sense to have prog-rock heroes Outside In on the lineup. Albeit there have been some personnel changes lately, the band’s unique style and experimental sound has remained unchanged and echoes that of the headline act. On guitars tonight were special guests Ben Ruegg of Channeled, and Hugh from Mothra – What a perfect union of musical visionaries!

It had been some time since I last saw Outside In perform live, but the mystery and eccentricity in vocalist and frontman Mikey’s performances isn’t easily forgotten. Bordering on theatrical, his gesticulations and body movements as he sings is hypnotising to watch. When matched with psychedelia-tinged synths and the drum’s mathematical rhythms, the band’s sets seize all attention and mesmerises everyone.

Hugh provided the post-rock nuances, while Ben lent a great deal of lead guitar work to the set. Bassist Elliot II Seung’s performance was astounding as ever, colouring the songs with melodic flourishes and delivering bass-playing virtuosity at a level I rarely see these days. Holy moly.

Perhaps Outside In wanted to road test some songs as it seemed to me the set of this evening consisted of many previously unreleased music. There was the haunting The Tui, the beautifully powerful and politically-tinged Vampires, and the last song of the set, The List, where the frontman finally broke into full-throated, yelled vocals.

Before wrapping up, Mikey announced Outside In will be releasing either a new EP or record in the coming months. Having heard the premium grade of tonight’s performance, these new tracks will be nothing short of stunning – Watch this space…

Seeing Pull Down the Sun always feels like such a treat. Their colossal sound and attention to musical detail puts them up there with some of the best international metal acts. For those who are into heavy music and haven’t yet checked out Pull Down the Sun, I implore you to see them live the next chance you get, or spin their album here, It’s a wondrous blend of post-metal and Deftones influences, all with a uniquely te ao Māori take.

Frontman, guitarist and vocalist Koert Wegman, looking as mysterious as ever with his hoodie up, deftly switched between growls and clean vocals all while generating roaring chords, dissonant scrapes and gargantuan atmospheres on guitar. While drummer Stefan Bourke hammered away solidly and diligently track after track, lead guitarist Jason Healey’s iconic dreadlocks swished and snapped in the air as he played, seeming to mirror the wild winds outside Tuning Fork!

The band have clearly been fine-tuning their performance, as they sounded even tighter than the last time I saw them. The audience were treated to standout tracks like Salt of the Earth, as well as their 2020 album’s namesake song Of Valleys and Mountains. The latter of which, prior to playing, frontman Koert admitted the song was directly influenced by the likes of Gojira. And no kidding, if you close your eyes it definitely sounds extremely Gojira-like.

When playing live, Pull Down the Sun emit a huge expanse of sound for a three-piece act. Granted, their backing tracks help, but it’s also in how members of Pull Down the Sun embody their music and projects it. The sum of all parts become fluid like a river, yet massive enough to move mountains.

It was time. Coridian’s last hurrah. With a dimly lit stage, a heartfelt instrumental intro led the way courtesy of the three Raven brothers. On the four panels in the backdrop were projections of footage taken at Coridian’s past shows which really drove home that this really was the final act. Sigh.

Frontman and vocalist Dity emerged to raucous applause as 2016’s Birth of Symmetry opened the set.

“It’s gonna be an emotional show for me tonight”, Dity confessed, “So let’s do it together!“

Insert sad eyes emoji.

Many of the band’s key singles and career-defining hits were selected for tonight, including State of Mind, Algorithm, Coexist for the front half of the show. Coridian performed powerfully, as they are known to do, and tonight of all  nights, was no exception. 

Guitar wizard Mike was focused and stoic, carefully crafting notes as he plays. Equally as focused was Kris behind the drumkit, painting rhythms and powering those pummeling riffs. On double-duty was, of course, bass maestro Nick, swaggering and swaying as he played. Dity, evidently relishing this final opportunity to be with Coridian’s fans, reached into the audience, pointed to friends and family, and sang with arms outstretched as if to hug the entire audience. Oh, and lots of jumps! It’s not a proper Coridian show if Dity isn’t bouncing around on stage.

The frontman took a moment to highlight the importance of having safe spaces for everyone at all-ages shows such as this, and invited parents with children to come up to the front and enjoy themselves for the song Good for Nothing. What a wholesome thing to do!

The band had chosen some deep cuts from their past, some of which I was unsure if I had ever heard before, and didn’t appear to be in their Spotify back catalogue (gee, I sound like such a millennial hipster writing that). The instrumental Daikini sounded somewhat familiar, an epic sonic journey filled with energy and atmosphere, all building to a muscular crescendo. This was followed by Slow Moves, which I was pretty certain I had never seen or heard before. How gutting, that I would hear awesome material that (I don’t think) I’d heard before on the final night of Coridian’s career!

Perhaps their most widely known single is their cover of Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game, so it came as no surprise that as they began the song almost the entire audience cheered, and everyone around me sang along to the verses. Tonight, Wicked Game was the most passionate, precise and moving rendition I’ve seen since the single’s release. Absolutely astounding work.

In lieu of baiting for an encore, the stage lights dimmed for a minute, then Coridian gave the audience what they wanted with their incendiary hits Seed, Seed II and a personal favourite of mine, Blind Faith. The anthemic, giant soundscape, and the bittersweet, roaring choruses made for the perfect way to end a brilliant night. Not only that, but it was also a heartfelt way to acknowledge the support of fans, and to properly cap off the career of the four-piece. For now.

Frontman Dity was audibly and visibly quite emotional about it all, and it was difficult not to empathise. He was clearly moved as he spoke of the brotherhood, the camaraderie, and the work they all put in over the past ten years. Dity once again thanked the fans, and Mike leant over and gave him a good, firm embrace.

Insert crying face emoji.

I’m sure I was not the only one thinking and wishing for “a new Coridian” to fill the gap in the Tamaki Makaurau scene as well as Kiwi rock. The band have been a solid staple, and are leaving a large space on the mantlepiece of Aotearoa music.

But as some have also said, nothing is ever truly “done”.

Without waxing poetic about how everything comes to a conclusion, I still couldn’t help but think of-

Oh gee. He’s not gonna quote that song, is he?

Think of the 1998 song Closing Time by Semisonic.

Great. I knew it.

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”

Your cheesiness really knows no bounds, does it?

With what we witnessed at Tuning Fork tonight, and seeing the local scenes burgeoning with talent and hard-working musicians, I personally think Kiwi rock is thriving. We salute and farewell one, we welcome and empower others. I mean, there’s more of CRY WOLF to look forward to, who pulled off an extremely promising debut today.

I also suspect we’ve not seen the true end of Coridian. Maybe the end is never really the end?

Here I go waxing poetic again.

A huge round of applause again to Coridian for their years of dedication and championing Kiwi rock. Ngā mihi maioha; we’ll see you around.

Photo Credit: Leana Lowe / Gas Mask Bunny Photography for Muzic.NZ
Coridian Photo Gallery
Pull Down The Sun Photo Gallery
Outside In Photo Gallery
CRY WOLF Photo Gallery